For many juniors and seniors prom marks a rite of passage into their lives past high school as the impending promise of graduation marches closer and closer.

   Prom is a night to have fun with friends and make memories that will last a lifetime, which is exactly what students did as they danced and laughed the night away at the Double Tree Hotel in Austin:

   Every year a group of students devote a part of their lives to an increasingly important cause, diligently contributing their time and energy to making the environment just a bit better on behalf of the school. They take turns one day every week, staying after class to push around an old shopping cart collecting box after box of discarded papers and making the often windy trip out to the big green recycling bin most people don’t even know exists.

   Every year they do this work in silence: no complaining, no preaching. That is until their chance for validation arrives in the form of Earth Week. It marks a time when the world takes notice and becomes at least a little more aware of the impact every person has on the world around them.

   “We take the Earth for granted 51 weeks out of the year,” said Judy Guerra, Green Paws sponsor. “It won’t hurt us to be reminded that the Earth is important.”

   The members of Green Paws are undoubtedly aware of their impact on the Earth, but Earth Week marks a time for them to focus on teaching others the information they have gathered.

   “We describe certain environmental issues that affect our planet, and we give ideas on how to help minimize them,” said Genesis Urbina, senior and Green Paws Vice President.

   While lessons of this nature are valuable for any member of society they can have an even greater affect on high school students who are, in many ways, still forming a basis of understanding on how the environment works and how big of an impact they can have.

   “We learn a basis of values that continues to develop, and we are able to take to heart that helping the environment will provide a better world for the future,” said Ellen Giddens, senior and Green Paws president.

Earth Week Themes:

Meatless Monday – Promoting awareness about factory farms

Thermal Tuesday – Promoting awareness about climate change

Water Wednesday – Promoting awareness about water pollution and endangered sea life

Thursday – Earth Day

Foresting Friday – Promoting awareness about the effects of deforestation

   He has experienced more tribulations in his life than the vast majority of Leander students. He understands what it means to truly long for an education. He stands over six feet tall. He sits on a rock, not a chair. He writes on a board, not a desk. He walks to the classroom, he does not drive. But mostly, he knows that with all of these ‘discomforts’ and ‘inconveniences’ he will stand a much better chance at not being doomed to repeat the treacherous lives of every single member of his family who has come before him. This is his lucky year.

   This luck comes in the form of a high school, the first to be built in his rural Kenyan community, “a modern high school that will change this community forever, and will be a model for schools across Africa,” said Turk Pipkin, director of One Peace at a Time (the film responsible for bringing this project to Leander High School).

   Through The Nobelity Project, an Austin-based organization dedicated primarily to furthering education and bettering lives for children across the globe, the Leander community has gained the opportunity to aide in this mission through the construction of Mahiga Hope High School.

   Seniors in the International Baccalaureate were invited to watch One Peace at a time and were immediately impacted by the gravity of a number of problems in other parts of the world and the noble causes aimed at answering these problems.

   “This project stood out to me because I have always wanted to do something that has world value,” said Victoria Fielding, IB senior. “This opportunity has been something that has allowed me to contribute to the world.”

   One of the major aspects stressed through the IB program is being aware of international causes. While it would be easier to chose a local cause, especially due to the tangible quality of any results, there is much more potential for profound impact when giving to cause which isn’t right  next door because it causes one to pay attention to the results and not just take them for granted.

   “This project is so important because it allows us to help our family on the other side of the world,” said Fielding. “This project gives work to idle hands, and contributes to the greatest good: a bright future for kids who wouldn’t have one otherwise.”

As spring break rolls around once again, students the state over are bubbling with anticipation. For some, the joy of spring break is logging in a few more hours of sleep, while for others it’s taking off on the trip to remember. Here in Texas, the quest for that dream trip oftentimes leads students south of the border into the cheap yet warm and exotic world of Mexico.

Mexico, renowned for its turquoise beaches, is unquestionably a desirable destination. Aside from the natural beauty of its coast, an American tourist doesn’t have to worry about exchanging their currency as the majority of vendors accept the dollar just as readily as the peso.

As a popular vacationing spot in general, the tourist industry has developed to engage their foreign guests the whole way through with an exciting night life, a rich culture, and various other attractions. With all that, it’s hard to believe that a trip to Mexico remains one of the most affordable as well.

However, with such encouragement buzzing in the ads, it’s easy to overlook the risk. As it stands, Mexico is not only a foreign country with a different set of laws and a different government but one that’s trapped in the battlegrounds of Latin America’s prevailing drug war.

As a result, many tourists find themselves either drugged, robbed (by native civilians and police alike), or in the worst cases, raped or murdered. Another particular hazard that has plagued American tourists is the fact that medical help may not be readily available, even in life or death situations, and how it may come with an exceedingly high price when it is.

What does all this mean?

Put simply, it means that anyone looking to explore the wonders of Mexico, or any foreign hotspot, should do all they can to be prepared, and know exactly what sort of environment they are walking into.

Statistically, the majority of tourists that are murdered or assaulted got involved in Mexico’s drug life at some point during their stay, and so without a doubt, the easiest way to cut back on risk is by avoiding such drugs. It’s also possible to be caught unaware, and a tourist should never drink anything that they haven’t opened themselves.

In general, it’s always best to travel in groups. This is true even in one’s own hotel as there have been reported incidents of a hotel’s staff taking advantage of unsuspecting tourists.

As another rule of thumb, one should be careful not to carry a large amount of cash on them at any given point in time to reduce the possible loss.

Of course, it should be noted that the risks to be found in Mexico aren’t much different than the everyday risks of wandering around downtown Austin. The thing that works against Mexico’s visitors is the fact they are just that, visitors, foreign, and thus easily targeted.

For many, it’s easy to forget the danger when there’s so much fun to be had, and that is the mistake that, when corrected, could prevent the majority of the misfortunes that befall American tourists every year.

By simply being aware of the dangers and taking the necessary precautions, one can be sure that they’ll have the spring break of a lifetime, and a vacation to be remembered for laughter rather than tragedy.

The 2010 Winter Olympics have come to a close, but has left an impression of positivity in the minds of those who witnessed and shared the emotional journey of their country and its athletes.

   Rarely is global competition not taking place behind the desks of a nation’s leader, but with the Olympics the same sense of competition remains, but a sense of friendship, pride, and joy occurs between our nations.

   Tenth grade teacher and Canadian citizen Anna McKnay when asked How the Olympics made her feel responded, “Very homesick, but very proud to be Canadian”, and when asked about the Canadian hockey teams historical victory over the United States proudly responded, “Because Canada’s the best at it”.

   The winter Olympics over shadowed, American Idol’s ratings, proving that Americans still believe in pride and love for their country.

Students came out in force to represent Leander at the Skills USA district competition held in Waco Feb. 18-20.

The students involved in the electrical trades, drafting and cosmetology programs which competed did especially well; a number of them will be moving on to compete at a State level.

All of the Electrical Technology projects qualified for State which meant obtaining a score of 90 percent or higher, the lowest score received was a 96 percent. Advancing to State for the NCE Code Written test are Brandon Rogers (first place) and Matthew Lemmons (second place), also placing was Matt Schleis who received third place but will not be advancing. Advancing to State in the Residential Wiring Competition is Caleb Lucio who received first place.

For the drafting competition Nicole Longtin, who placed second in civil drafting, will be representing the school at the State level.

Advancing for cosmetology events are Abbi Baird (second in nail art) and Maribel Artega, Holly Sawyer, Kaylon Croxton, Toree Waters and Jessica Butel who all took first place in the Quiz Bowl competition. Also placing but not advancing was Katie Tschoemer (fifth in haircutting), Kaylon Crexton and Torree Water (fourth and fifth respectively in nail care), Courtney Wilson (third in nail art) and Yvette Lopez (fifth in esthetics).

    Flores will make his 2^nd appearance at State and Kempers is only the 2^nd wrestler from Leander to win his weight class at Regional competition. Boosters for the wrestling team would like as much support as possible in the form of fans at the upcoming competition.

   Also, a major fundraiser is underway for the team running Feb. 15-20. By eating at Pluckers during this time, 20 percent of food purchases will be donated to the wrestling team. Teachers will receive a free appetizer Feb. 19 by presenting their badge. Be sure to mention the LHS Wrestling Team when ordering.

   The yearbook will be sold at school beginning April 1 through April 30. Forms may be picked up from and returned to Room 223.  Spring prices are yearbook only $50; yearbook with name $55; yearbook with name and DVD $60.

   The yearook staff chose the theme Out of the Blue as the theme for the 2010 book.

   The Leander Lion swim team competed at UT’s Jamail Swim Center last Friday Jan. 29 and Saturday Jan. 30 emerging from the tournament with high spirits and a place in the regionals.

   Claire Toomey won her third district diving competition for the third year in a row and April Cunningham qualified fourth in the one-hundred breaststroke. The girls two-hundred medley (Lindsey Ulin, April Cunningham, Juliet Jagoe and Nicole Longtin)and freestyle relays qualified (Taylor Counts, Giselle Owen, Lindsey Ulin and April Cunninham), as well as the four-hundred relays (Juliet Jagoe, Nicole Longtin, Giselle Owen andTaylor Counts).

   Others individual qualifiers include, Juliet Jagoe, Nicole Longtin, Taylor Counts, Giselle Owen, and Lindsey Ulin who will be participating in the regional competition in “The Woodlands” Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13.